Perspective

I've always heard that things are different with a second child.  Well, I'd agree that it is true.  Some things are easier and less stressful than with the first child just because we've experienced it before.  Some things are more difficult like not being able to help Raleigh when she needs something because I'm feeding Garner.  The good thing is that I know these things will get easier as we get a schedule established.  Someone also told me that when your second child is born people don't rush to see him like the first child.  I would definitely agree.  Yes, we've had visitors, but not like we did with Raleigh.  With her I also got flowers and balloons when she was born...with Garner...nothing.  I also thought Jason would have had me a ring with Garner's birthstone on it like he did with Raleigh or some push present, but no, nothing.  Was I very a little disappointed...yes and I would say it led to some tears after we came home feeling like no one cared.  After my pity party I realized that it really didn't matter and having a happy, healthy Garner at home with us is more important.  Although I would still like to have a ring or something with his birthstone like I do with Raleigh...maybe my birthday or Mother's day??

I also think with everything we've been through to have a child, I look at my pregnancy and birth with a different perspective than some.  No matter how bad I felt during the pregnancy and with all the issues I had this go around, I still loved being pregnant and miss it so much!  And as much as I miss it, I love snuggling with my little boy just as much too!  I also tried to realize every instance along the way when God answered our prayers...even the smallest one.  Here's a list of answered prayers from the beginning:

• Prayed for God's timing to begin having another child and he gave me a peace about it when the time was right (I had always said that we'd go back to the doctors when Raleigh was 2 if I wasn't pregnant...didn't have a peace about it until after she turned 3).
• God answered our prayers with new doctors that were wonderful and didn't take advantage of us dealing with infertility to get money.
• God gave us support from our friends who prayed for us during the entire journey.
• Throughout all the shots and doctor appointments everything went as scheduled.
• During each surgery the results were favorable with more than we could have imagined.
• Friends offered to watch and care for Raleigh anytime we had a doctors appointment.
• When we found out that we only had three embryos that we could implant and the others probably would not survive to be frozen, God gave me a peace that I can't explain during the embryo transfer procedure.
• I prayed each day for all three of the embryos that were placed inside me and that at least one would implant and one very special one did (that I found out the day after Mother's Day).
• I prayed for a strong heartbeat and healthy baby at every doctors appointment and we always saw one.
• We were released from the fertility doctors at 8 weeks along...earlier than I thought, but healthy enough to be released.
• At 13 weeks I ended up in the emergency room not sure if I was miscarrying or not, but God answered my prayers that night and showed us a healthy baby moving around and with a strong heartbeat.
• I had a subchorionic hematoma that is fairly common and after some close monitoring and limited activity for a few weeks, God answered my prayers and completely healed it.
• I also had placenta previa and I prayed for it to resolve so I could deliver naturally and it did.
• In August we found out that we were definitely having a little boy.
• Raleigh was excited about having a little brother and never once said that she wanted a sister.
• After being sick for a week I had another issue that caused some concern thinking that I could possibly deliver too early and after praying and resting for a week things were back to normal.
• When I found out I was due in January I said that it would be great if Scott had to come to Georgia for something...he ended up coming from January 4-8.
• I prayed that I would go into labor on my own and not have to be induced...I did.
• I prayed that I would have Garner while Scott was here so he could meet him...I did.
• Daddy found out he would be leaving for Missouri for 3 weeks (leaving one week before my due date) and I prayed that I would have Garner before he left...I did.
• I prayed that I would have Garner on January 6 or 7 since I liked both midwives who were on call those days...he was born on the 6th.
• During labor Garner's heart rate would drop after my contractions, I prayed that he would remain healthy for a natural delivery...the nurses worked to get me in a different position to help his heart rate and it remained great to deliver naturally.
• I prayed I wouldn't have to push long and I only had to push for about 4 minutes (2 times).
• I prayed that Garner would be healthy...he was (apgar score of 8 at 1 minute and 9 at 5 minutes).
• I prayed that Raleigh would adjust well...she has (maybe a little attention seeking at times).

I know that this probably doesn't even cover all of the answered prayers, but it just amazes me at how God took care of every request we made and provided it all in his timing.

I'm so thankful for two healthy children that God has blessed us with and given us the privilege to raise!

Happy Birthday Garner!!

It all started January 5, 2012 a little after 9:00 pm.  I had been ready to go to the hospital all day on Thursday.  For some reason I had it in my head that Friday would be a good day to have him and I felt a little bit of pressure to make sure he was here before Sunday (Scott had to go back to Germany and Daddy was leaving for Missouri for 3 weeks to work).  I needed to have this baby!!  After work on Thursday I went to get a pedicure that mama and daddy had given me for Christmas.  My toes needed to look nice.  :)  When I got home I cleaned the bathrooms then we went to eat at my parents house.  I felt a few contractions, but nothing consistent so I figured it wouldn't happen.  When I got home I vacuumed the house and then decided to sweep up the kitchen floor.  As I stood up from sweeping everything into the dust pan my water broke.  I told Jason that my water just broke and he asked me if I was serious!  Ummmm....yes!  The crazy thing is that I was not having contractions, but I wasn't sure how quickly things might progress.  I called my parents to tell them so they could come get Raleigh.  Jason was trying to get everything packed in the car (luckily I already had the baby's bag packed in the car and my bag was almost ready).  I called my doctors office and waited for the call back.  Janice (the midwife on call) called me back and told us to come on in since we aren't close to the hospital.  Daddy got Raleigh picked up and we headed to the hospital.  I don't think Jason was too happy...he didn't feel good and really wasn't expecting my water to break.  We made it to the hospital around 10:15 and I was so glad I would get dropped off at the door, but too bad Jason dropped me off at the wrong door and I had to get to labor and delivery while he was parking the car.  :)  They quickly got me into a room and once my nurse Ashleigh checked me I was still only around 3-4 cm.  Bummer!  I was hoping I was a little further along.  I was hooked up to the monitors and Garner was going crazy moving.  He didn't like the monitors on him.  Oh, I wish I could feel him moving like that one more time!  My parents got to the hospital with Raleigh not long after we did.  We had no idea how long we would be or we would have let them stay home to give Raleigh some sleep, but we wanted her there with us and didn't want to chance anything.  Janice decided to start me on pitocin since I was Group B+ and my water had broken.  Not really what I wanted, but I had to do what is best for the baby. The nurses brought us blankets and pillows and we tried to get some sleep.  Every time I would get to sleep they would come in to check on me because they weren't picking up my contractions or Garner's heart rate would lower after a contraction.  Raleigh finally went to sleep, but was concerned about me and wanted to be able to see my face.  I love her!  She probably only slept around 2-3 hours that night, but so did the rest of us.  In the morning they finally got me in a seated position that was better to monitor the contractions.  At 7:00 am on Friday the 6th, Janice and Ashleigh went off and Kristy (the midwife) came in.  I can't remember my nurses name at that point, but she wasn't my favorite.  She was good, but didn't have a personality.  Kristy was great and told me that if I wanted a natural delivery we could do it.  I was beginning to have more pain when she came in, but it was still bearable.  At that point I was still going to try.  Well, around 7:45 my pain was getting unbearable meaning I had to stop what I was doing to concentrate, I was pale, felt like I might get sick, and Jason was on the verge of not having a hand.  :)  So I did what I didn't want to do...I didn't have Kristy come in and check to see where I was and I called for the epidural.  My thought was that it wasn't worth the pain to not enjoy the birth of my child plus I didn't want Raleigh to worry why I was in so much pain (she was asking some questions).  At 8:15 I finally got the epidural which seemed more painful than I remembered (and afterwards I felt more pain in my back) and I shook after getting it.  Do I regret it?  Yes and no.  It was nice that I was able to sleep for an hour after I got it.  Sometime after 9:15 my nurse came in and told me to let her know when I was feeling like pushing.  It wasn't long after that when I decided I was ready, so I got Kristy in there and she said let's start!  My parents and Raleigh left out of the room at 9:50, Jason was on the phone with his mom to let her know I was about to start pushing (his mom and grandmother were on their way to the hospital), I was telling him I was about to start pushing and to get the camera out...NOW!!  I wanted a picture of me holding Garner for the first time (one thing I didn't have with Raleigh) and I really wanted one of me pushing and Jason cutting the umbilical cord, but he had to set the camera up so quickly that we didn't have it all worked out plus he was in the way of the camera and for the one picture we got he had to move back.  I started pushing one time and Jason was not next to me!!!  I needed him to get over there because Kristy had already gotten ready.  I only had to push about two times and he was born at 9:59!  It went so quickly, but I was thankful too that it was easy.  According to the time on my camera Jason snapped a picture of me right when he got the camera set up and it was 9:54 and then one when Garner was born and it was 9:57...crazy!!  My first thoughts when I saw him was...he's so small and he has a ton of hair, no wonder I had heartburn!  It blows my mind how small he was when Raleigh was so big.  I also have no idea who he looks like yet.  With Raleigh I immediately saw Jason in her, but with Garner I haven't decided.

His stats are:

Garner Robert Collum

7 lbs 11 oz

21" long

9:59 am

38 weeks and making progress!

Another check up and another week along.  I can't believe that we're two weeks away from the due date, but I'm hoping he comes this week so my brother can meet him!  I went to the doctor today for a check and am 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced.  She was going to strip my membranes, but I got nervous when she said that and told her not to.  As much as I want him to be here I wasn't ready for him to come today!  After she checked him we listened to his heart rate and it was around 170 bpm which was high for him so I asked her about it. She decided to do a non-stress test just to make sure there were no other concerns.  When we hooked him up he was fine, just a little active!  :)  Hope to meet him soon!